Investors shouldn't just take companies' word for what they're doing; they should investigate what the companies are actually doing regarding human rights.
This week, Richard Howitt welcomes Robert McCorquodale, professor of international law and human rights and current chair of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, to discuss their report presented last month to the 56th Human Rights Council on investor responsibility to respect human rights.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Resources:
“So what investors can do is actually do human rights due diligence when they're deciding to invest in a particular company. Find out what actually is that company doing, not just what they're saying they're doing. When I speak to companies who are being asked these questions by investors, they often say “they're not even asking us the right questions.” They can ask a question such as how many women are there employed in your workforce? The answer could be more than 50% and you get a tick that says nothing about actually what is the discrimination, harassment, pay or anything about women.”
Is this the start of a B Corps revolution? Listen to Bernard Gouw, Senior Social Standards Manager at B Lab Global, and founder of the natural skincare brand Beauty Kitchen, Jo Chidley
What do the new revisions to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards actually mean for businesses, and how will they affect the EU's green transition? Listen to EFRAG TEG members Sandra Atler and Signe Lysgaard
.png)
What can traditional Japanese business practice teach us about corporate sustainability? Listen to Akiko Sato, Business and Human Rights Project Officer at the United Nations Development Programme and Special Adviser at the business and human rights NGO Pillar Two
